Four Key Additions As Roster Takes Shape

Two Returning Players & Two New Players Added To 78s Roster

Coming off its first season at 13-4 and a playoff appearance, the 78s have committed to a building a winning tradition and pushing the program forward in its second season.

Guard Tony Gallo, the team’s leading scorer (32/game) and assist (5.5/game) maker last season, has already announced his return for the upcoming season. It next two leading scorers, guard Kamahl Walker (20.5/game) and wing Sam Longwell (20/game) have also announced their return. Forward Jose Cruz Jr., the team leader in blocks (2/g) last season will also be returning.

Returning Players

Scotty Tavares-Taylor

If you have listened to Podcast 78 Episode 4 you heard a bit about how much Scotty means to this team. Along with Kamahl Walker, he played all our games last season and is a consistent leader on this team. He was the team leader in steals (2.9/game), but that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story.

Scotty is a very cerebral player and a talented passing guard with the skills of a pure point. When the team is swinging the ball around well , Scotty is typically in the middle of it. He doesn’t shoot the ball very much, but hits the big shots when he gets them. He reads well defensively, gets lots of deflections and is often part of the defensive team effort that leads to turnovers. His scoring line doesn’t represent even a portion of the value he has delivered to this team.

From Roxbury, MA, Scotty went to UMASS Lowell and Franklin Pierce University. He’s very well known in New England basketball circles an is called the “future mayor of Boston” by some inside the team. See his Scotty’s player profile for more information.

Sean McCarthy

Sean is a true big, standing 6’10 and 250 lbs with a ton of talent around the basket. He often makes difficult tip ins look extremely easy. He boxes out very well with when added to his size makes him a force around the basket on both ends. He plays the post very well and has the strength to back down just about anyone. He’s an imposing threat on the pick and roll and is an effective passer out of the post and hits his mid range jumpers when they are there for him.

The ABA is in substantial part guard driven which sometimes makes Sean hard to match up. Given the up and down style of Coach Leo’s system, it took a bit for Sean to find his role last year. Down the stretch, he was a huge presence. In the last five regular season games Sean had three double-doubles, one of which was with 15 points and 15 rebounds. It will be exciting to see what season two with the 78s holds for Sean.

Sean is from Scituate, MA and played division one ball at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). See more at Sean’s player profile.

New Players

Chris Fitzgerald

Adding to the front court was something we wanted to do this season, but we weren’t sure how it was going to get done. Then Chris signed up for our open tryout at Worcester State University during the off-season. He was extremely impressive from warm ups and throughout the session. Standing 6’9″ at 270 pounds Chris likes contact underneath and can more than stand his ground. He’s got post and underneath moves that don’t seem to have an end. Along with size and strength he’s brings shooting range and can play the stretch forward role. He’s going to be an very interesting player to watch this season.

Coming from a military family, Chris calls Hawaii Kai him but now lives in Westminster, MA. He played a season in the NCAA Atlantic 10 at George Washington University before taking some time away from the game. He finished up playing at Assumption. See more in Chris’ player profile.

Dmitri Floras

Last but certainly not least, Dimitri Floras will be someone to watch on this team this season. Added to an already stacked back court, Dimitri has a huge set of tools that will demand significant attention from opposing defenses. He’s got the quickness, the range and the elevation to make plays all over the offensive end. With his resume coming into camp it was hard to see how he wouldn’t be a part of this roster.

Dimitri played two years at division one Quinnipiac and transferred to division two Southern New Hampshire University for his junior and senior year. Learn more at Dimitri’s player profile.